Institute C. Mondino - Pavia, Pavia, Italy. Published: 18 September 2014 doi:10.1186/1129-2377-15-S1-D39. Cite this article as: Maffioletti et al.: EHMTI-0180.
Maffioletti et al. The Journal of Headache and Pain 2014, 15(Suppl 1):D39 http://www.thejournalofheadacheandpain.com/content/15/S1/D39
MEETING ABSTRACT
Open Access
EHMTI-0180. Behavioural and alexithymic characteristics of adolescents suffering from chronic headache E Maffioletti1*, MM Mensi1, E Antonaci2, MA Chiappedi3, F Ferro3, S Molteni3, F Galli3, F Piazza3, U Balottin3 From 4th European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress: EHMTIC 2014 Copenhagen, Denmark. 18-21 September 2014 Introduction Many studies have examined the association between paediatric headache and psychopathology; some of them raised the possibility that headache frequency and severity could be worsened by a reduced psychological ability to mentally process emotions and affects. Aims The first aim of this study was to assess psychopathological comorbidity in adolescents with chronic daily headache (CDH) compared to adolescents with non-chronic headache. The second aim was to investigate the possible role of alexithymia as a negative factor in adolescents with headache. Methods 42 patients aged 11.0-17.11, consecutively seen for headache in our Headache Centre, and their 42 mothers were enrolled. They were assessed using Parent Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), Youth Self-report (YSR) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). A detailed history was taken to assess the presence of headache, using criteria defined by ICDH-III beta.
(P=0.010), Attention Deficit (P=0.024) and Affective Problems (P=0.036) compared to non-alexithymic patients.
Conclusions This study confirmed that CDH are associated with a higher level of impairment and with a heavier psychopathological burden. It is possible that the presence of a significant degree of alexythimia in these patients could be associated to the worsening both of headache and of psychopathological aspects. No conflict of interest. Authors’ details 1 Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS National Neurological Institute “C. Mondino” - Pavia, Pavia, Italy. 2Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, University of Pavia - Pavia, Pavia, Italy. 3Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS National Neurological Institute C. Mondino - Pavia, Pavia, Italy. Published: 18 September 2014
doi:10.1186/1129-2377-15-S1-D39 Cite this article as: Maffioletti et al.: EHMTI-0180. Behavioural and alexithymic characteristics of adolescents suffering from chronic headache. The Journal of Headache and Pain 2014 15(Suppl 1):D39.
Results 21 (50%) of our patients presented a form of CDH; they had at the YSR higher levels of Somatic Complaints (P=0.006), Thought Problems (P=0.003) and ADHD (P=0.049). At the CBCL, their mothers reported higher levels of Somatic Complaints (P=0.045) and lower Total Competences (P=0.012). Alexithymic patients showed more Social Problems (P=0.039), Thought Problems Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS National Neurological Institute “C. Mondino” - Pavia, Pavia, Italy Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
1
© 2014 Maffioletti et al; licensee Springer. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
